Windows won't boot normally

ok, so here is my problem. Every time I try to turn on my computer, I get a screen with this message.

"We apologize for the inconvinience, but Windows did not start succesfully. A recent hardware or software change might have caused this.

If your computer stopped responding, restarted unexpectedly, or was auto shut down, choose Best Known Good Configuration to revert to the most recent settings that worked.

If a previous startup attempt was interrupted due to a power failure or because the power or reset button was pressed, or if you aren't sure what caused the problem, choose Start Windows Normally.

Safe Mode
Safe Mode with Networking
Safe Mode with Command Prompt

Last Known Good Configuration

Start Windows Normally"

When I select start normally or last good configuration, the windows splash screen will show for awhile, but then it will restart and then show the message again. I'm not sure if this is a hardware problem or a virus, but I scanned everything and did everything listed in the removal procedures post. At least everything that I could do. I was unable to do any of the online scans because I can't load safe mode with networking either. That also will restart on me. I also tried system restore, but that didn't work either. Any insight into what can be causing this and what I can do will be greatly appreciated.

 

did you install any hardware or software recently before this started happening?

 

No I haven't changed anything to my computer recently, which is why i'm totally confused and don't even know where to begin to fix this.

 

Does it start in Safe Mode?

Do you have a Windows CD?

 

yes it does start in safe mode. that's the only thing it will start with. And no, I don't have a Windows CD. should i try and find one?

 

Did you install anything just before this problem occurred?

If you did, uninstall it while in Safe Mode.

Also check Device Manager for any hardware errors.

Did you have System Restore enabled prior to this?

 

yeah, system restore was enabled. i tried that, it didn't work. How do I check the device manager?

 

Start, Run and type in devmgmt.msc OR

Right-click My Computer, Properties, Hardware tab followed by the Device Manager button.

 

Ok, so I opened up the device manager, but there's nothing there. I clicked the Hardware tab, and under All Disk Drives there's nothing listed at all.

 

If you've tried System Restore (and Last Known Good Configuration) and that failed, then next alternative is a Repair.

Do you have your XP CD?

HERE is a guide.

You won't lose any settings or programs, but you may lose patches.

 

i tried to follow the guide, but was kind of stumped at the first step. is it necessary for me to boot using the cd? The bios thing seems a little complicated. Would it work if i just opened it from safe mode?

 

Yes you have to boot from CD.

If it was working, you can run a Repair from desktop, but I've never tried it in Safe Mode (autoplay the CD, then select Install Windows and follow the prompts).


It's not that difficult, just set the Bios to boot from CD and reboot with the CD in the drive.

 

And how do I set the bios? (this is the difficult part aka I'm not exactly sure what that is)

 

ok so i managed to boot from the cd and start the repair, but after it's done configuring everything it's supposed to restart and complete the setup. At least that's what it sounds like. But it doesn't. It just keeps restarting. It starts, gets to the windows splash screen, then restarts. And it will do this over and over again until i turn it off. Somebody PLEASE help me.

 

Remove any hardware you don't need at this stage (it sounds like failing hardware).

Only have the very minimum required to get the PC to boot and try again.

The less hardware, the less chance of problems.

 

First of all, thanks so much for taking the time to respond. I will probably end up taking the computer to my uncle in a week or so to take a look at the hardware because I don't really know what to do with that. But just for my own piece of mind right now, are you pretty sure it's a hardware problem and not a virus, and either way, will I be able to save all of the files on my computer?

 

No I'm not sure, I can only give my opinion.

If it won't start in Safe Mode, or Last Known or even a repair, then that pretty much rules out software.

 

I tried to start my computer in safe mode again, but it's trying to finish the windows setup and says it can't in safe mode and to restart in normal mode. Obviously I can't do this. Is there some way to cancel the setup or any other way I can get back into safe mode?